After I cut trees into logs and remove the branches in winter, they start growing. They sprout out and grow completely normal looking stems and leaves and maintain them all summer. The sprouts mostly appear around the cut branches. Sometimes they last all winter and grow for another year. How does it find the energy and water necessary to maintain and grow these stems without ground connection and a water source?
This is basically the same that happens after pruning and involves a basic hormonal regulation mechanism in the plants.
What happens is that the cut piece of the wood forms a new meristem which allows the growth of new organs. What’s important is that there is no other growth happening nearby, since that would hormonally inhibit any further growth. This is why such growths happen once you’ve cut the wood, not before (on the healthy stem). This inhibitory effect is known as apical dominance, which has now been disabled.
As to where the energy and water comes from, to some extent it is stored within the branches themselves. That’s why you need to dry them before being able to use them in a fire. However, this growth is pretty limited. Further water is probably collected by condensation of water vapour in the air.
I would guess that the nutrients and water they need to survive are still in the logs. This is Common with willow trees, and mulberry trees. I’ve cut many of these species, and it always happens. they are two very hardy trees. Do you know what kind of tree you cut? It appears it is a willow.
